Obradovich: Santorum sweet on Iowa, but caucuses remain sour

Mar. 26, 2014

Rick Santorum's snacking became a running joke in the documentary 'Caucus!' about the campaign leading up to the 2012 Iowa caucuses. One scene shows him hovering over a dessert table at an event. Here he eats before a speech in 2012 in Livonia, Mich. / ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Former Sen. Rick Santorum made one “never again” vow about Iowa on Wednesday — but it’s not about running in the caucuses.

“I’m never eating in public again in Iowa,” Santorum said with a laugh. He was dishing with reporters about the movie “Caucus!” which made a running joke of the 2012 Republican presidential candidate noshing at campaign events. One scene shows him hovering over a dessert table at the back of the room at one event.

Santorum, the eventual winner of the caucuses, also pointed out that he’s frequently shown in the documentary arguing with Iowans. He had no argument Wednesday with the way the Republican caucuses were conducted. He said the caucuses in 2012 performed better than they ever had, and better than similar events in the country. “So, I don’t think there’s anything for Iowa to apologize for,” he said during the taping of “Iowa Press.”

The eventual GOP nominee, Mitt Romney, was incorrectly declared the winner by eight votes on caucus night. Two weeks later, after the votes were canvassed, Santorum came out on top by 34 votes. By that time, however, Romney had already won the New Hampshire primary.

The Iowa Republican Party is still considering ways to reform the caucuses in light of the 2012 result. Santorum refrained from offering advice, even about the controversial GOP straw poll. The Ames event, a major party fundraiser, is often criticized for the expense it imposes on candidates.

Santorum, however, said his campaign spent little money on the straw poll and had no expectation of winning. Instead, his campaign used it to test its organization. “We used it for a dry run for the caucuses,” he said.

He joked that to describe his campaign spending as “meager” is an insult to the word, but he was able to win in Iowa by moving around the state and talking to activists. “There is no other opportunity in the primary process for someone to really get a chance to be interviewed by the voters to have a real knowledge and understanding.” That opportunity should be preserved, he said.

Republicans might decide, after hearing Santorum’s magnanimous comments, that the caucuses are perfectly fine the way they are and no changes are needed. However, his remarks should be filtered through his obvious desire to try again in 2016.

“No question about it. I’m very open to taking on another run, and right now I’m just doing everything that I would be doing if I was going to run,” Santorum said. One way a candidate keeps doors open is by not criticizing the caucus process.

I don’t think the caucuses wronged Santorum as severely as some in the national media have suggested. His come-from-behind finish made him the candidate who beat expectations. In the tradition of caucuses, sometimes that’s even better than an outright win. But that doesn’t mean the Iowa GOP can afford to let internal bickering or complacency get in the way of making the caucuses more relevant and reliable.

The Republican State Central Committee has not ratified proposed changes that a caucus review committee made nearly two years ago. Iowa Republican Party Chairman A.J. Spiker said Wednesday that a subcommittee charged with caucus review will meet Saturday and again in May. Among other considerations, the party must comply with a Republican National Committee rule that delegates be awarded in proportion with caucus results. In other words, the caucus winner or party nominee shouldn’t have to watch most of Iowa’s delegates vote for someone else at the national convention.

Other recommendations made by a GOP panel in June 2012 included certifying results within 72 hours. The idea remains controversial: Some county chairmen and chairwomen complained at the time that it was an impossible expectation. Other GOP activists argued that today’s technology makes people expect instant information and 72 hours is more than ample time.

The 2012 panel also recommended counting and verifying results in full view of caucusgoers, enhancing training for volunteers, exploring new technology to improve reporting, and improving control of paper ballots, which vary from county to county. Party officials also would be prohibited from declaring a winner before certification.

It’s great that Santorum’s caucus memories are more sweet than bitter. It’s still up to the Republican Party, however, to reassure the 2016 field that the rewards for competing in the Iowa caucuses are more substantial than an excellent slice of pie.